Tips for responsible turtle watching

Turtle watching in Oaxaca offers many rewards. But female sea turtles are very sensitive to disturbance, so too much human interaction can prevent them from laying their eggs. In order to avoid negatively impacting turtle behavior, follow these practices based on guidelines developed with WildCoast and the community of Ixtapilla, Michoacan.

• Go with a trained, professional guide.

• Avoid using flash photography.

• Use a flashlight with a red filter and avoid shining lights in the turtle’s eyes.

• Leave pets at home.

• Stay behind the turtle’s front flipper and away from her head. Leave a wide perimeter of space to allow her to return to the ocean

• Do not touch turtles or their eggs. Humans can inadvertently transfer bacteria.